The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has expressed concern over the growing wave of kidnappings and other security threats across the South-West, urging governments to take decisive steps to address the situation.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, the organisation cited recent abductions in Ogun, Oyo and Osun States, describing the development as a serious threat to the safety of residents.

Among the incidents highlighted was the abduction of travellers along the Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan Road last week, with kidnappers reportedly demanding a ransom of twenty-five million naira.

Afenifere also recalled an earlier abduction at the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria in Ibadan, the killing of a farmer in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State, and the separate kidnappings of Prince Michael Folarin in Igbeti, poultry farmer Ooreoluwa Osonuga in Ogun State, and Honourable Debo Farounbi in Ora, Osun State.

While acknowledging ongoing regional security initiatives, including Operation Kosaye and meetings among South-West governors, the group maintained that the continued attacks indicate that existing measures are inadequate.

The organisation also warned that the large number of out-of-school children across the country could provide a recruitment pool for criminal groups, echoing concerns previously raised by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

It therefore called on governments at all levels to prioritise free and quality education, as well as youth development programmes, to address factors that expose young people to criminal activities.

As part of measures to strengthen security, Afenifere advocated the provision of modern weapons and improved operational capacity for the Amotekun Corps, alongside the deployment of surveillance drones and rapid-response systems to monitor forests and border communities.

The group also called for financial autonomy for local governments to strengthen grassroots security, while urging traditional rulers and community leaders to support the screening of new arrivals and the coordination of neighbourhood watch groups.

Afenifere further advocated strict judicial penalties for banditry and the introduction of mechanised farming and vocational training programmes to engage youths productively and prevent their recruitment into criminal networks.